Traction-wheel.



'PATBNTED Nov. 1o, 190s.

D. B. SPEGK, TRAGT'ION WHEEL. APPLIGATIN PI'LED Armed. 190s.

1m mmm..

resented ivovemtei- 1o, 190e.

PATENT Qrricn,

DAVID BENJAMINE SPEGK, OF HOLTON, KANSAS.

TRACTION-WH EEL.

SPEGIFICATIDN 'forming part of Letters Patent No. 743,768, dated November 10, 1903. Application ledApril 301 1903. Seria-11%. 155,018. (No model.)

.T0 @ZZ whom, t may concern: Y

Be it known that I, DAVID BENJAMINE SPECK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Holton, in the countyof Jackson and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Traction-Wheel, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to traction-wheels; and it consists in the provision of improved means for supporting the dukes onthe periphery of the wheel, by means of which the Wheel engages with the surface ofthe roadway over which it passes, so as to prevent slipping thereon.

In traction-wheels as ordinarily constructed and used the dukes are bolted onto the outer surface of the rim of the wheel or cast integral therewith, either of which forms of construction is objectionable, for the reason that when the traction-engine provided with such Wheels passes over a bridge the dukes will damage the oor of they bridge unless removed from the wheel previous to the passage of the engine across the bridge. With linkes cast solidly upon the wheel removal is manifestly impossible, and withflukes bolted onto .the rim, as is sometimes done, the removal is a matter of some difficulty, which necessarily involves a considerable amount of time and labor and a consequent loss to the owner ofthe machine.

It is particularly desirable in traction-engines used with threshing-machines which are hauled from place to 'place during the threshing season that the dukes outhe wheel be so supported that they may be removed from the rim or withdrawn from operative position without loss of time, so that when the engine crosses a bridge no injury to the bridgedoor will result therefrom.

In the light bridges over small streams that are commonly used on country roads the iiules ordinarily provided on the wheels of traction-engines will injure to a very considerable degree the bridge-floor if not removed, and as the number of bridges to be crossed in the course of a season by a traction-engine used for the purpose above mentioned is apt to be quite large the loss of time and money to the owner of the apparatus which will result if ordinary bolted fiukes are provided and removed each time a bridge is crossed will necessarily be an item of importance.

My invention has for its object to provide means for supporting the dukes upon a traction-wheel in such manner that they may be instantly withdrawn from operative position without even stopping the engine or causing the engineer to leave his position thereon and which may, moreover, be set so as to project beyond the rim of the wheel a distance suitable to the character of the road-bed over which the engine is passing;

With the above-stated object and others in view, which will appear as the invention is better understood, the same consists in the construction and combination of parts of a traction wheel hereinafter described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

which corresponding parts are designated by the same charactersof reference throughout the various views, and having the novel features thereof speciiically pointed out in the appended claims. Y

` In the drawings, Figure lis a vertical sec- Htion through a traction-wheel and its axle in Fig. 2-isa the plane of one of its diameters. transverse section on the line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 8 is a View in side elevation of the hub ofthe traction-wheel shown in Fig. l with the spokes broken od near the hub, the parts being shown in 'the position taken when the dukes are projected into operative position.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters, l designates the axle, upon which isV mounted a traction-wheel having a hub comprising a sleeveor boxing 2, to which are rigidly attached the two collars 3 3, from which the spokes ft radiate in the manner shown.

5 designates the rim of the wheel, to which the spokes are secured in any preferred manner.

6 and 7 designate a nut and washer at the outer end of the axie for holding the tractionwheel upon the same, though it is to be un.

-derstood that other means of any preferred form may be substituted instead. p

8 8 are iiukes attached to or formed integral with bars 9, said dukes being projected through openings l0, provided in the rim of IOO the wheel. The inner ends of the bars 9 lie in notches 11 in a collar 12, slidably mounted on the sleeve 2. The bars 9 are slidably mounted in the notches 11, and motion inward and outward is communicated to the bars by means of a sliding collar 13, provided with lugs 14, each of which has pivotally mounted therein a link 15, connected at its outer end with one of the bars 9. Each link 15 is preferably formed of two portions 15 and 15b, having threaded ends engaging with internal threads on a turnbuckle 15C. This construction makes it possible to adj ust the length of each link to suit the couditionsunder which the traction-wheel is to be used. The collar 12 is normallyheld in contact with collar 3 at the outer side of the traction-wheel by means of keys 16, rotatably mounted in.

the collar 12 and having ends disposed at right angles to the body portion of the key, as best shown in Fig. 3. Keys 16 lie in slots 17, provided in the collar 3, and when the keys are turned into the position shown in Fig. 3 the ends thereof engage the faces of collars 3 and 12, so as to hold said collars in irm contact, as shown. The means for moving the collar 13 longitudinally of the sleeve 2 comprises a shrouded collar 18, placed internal to inner collar 3 and connected with sliding collar 13 by means of con necting-bolts 19, rigidly secured in any preferred manner to collar 13 and the collar 18. These bolts extend through apertures 20, provided in lthe inner collar 3, and prevent rotary movement of collars 13 and 18 with respect to the hub of the traction-wheel. The threaded collar 1S has on its periphery a circumferential groove 21, in which engage the ends of a forked lever 22, which may be supported in any preferred way upon the frame of the traction-engine. (Not shown.)

The outer collar 3 is cut away, so as to have at its periphery a flange 3, as best shown in Fig. 1, and the collar 12 is also cut away, so as to have a flange 12 at its periphery, in which are formed the notches 11, which serve as guideways for the bars 9. The space cut away under said flanges 3ZL and 1laL forms a chamber in which is mounted a collar 23, the face of which is channeled by a plurality of radial grooves 24 of the form shown in Fig. 2. The number of said radial grooves 24 corresponds to the number of bars 9, carrying the flukes 8, and at one side of each of said grooves is formed a shoulder 25, as seen in Fig. 2, which is adapted when the collar is in the position shown in Fig. 2 to form an abutment at the end of 011e of the bars 9 to prevent inward movement of said bar in its notch in the collar. The collar 23 is rotatably mounted on the sleeve 2 and is shifted in position by means of an arm 26 attached thereto, which projects outward through a slot 3b, formed in the ilange 3f on the outer collar 3, as seen in Fig. 2. lWhen the arm 26 is moved to the end ofthe slot opposite that at which it is shown in Fig. 2, the collar 3 will be shifted in position, so as to bring the grooves 24 into registration with the notches 11 in the flange 12a of the collar 12, so that the bars 9 may move inward to the end of said grooves and contact with the sleeve 2 of the hub of the traction-wheel, in which position it is obvious that the flukes 8 at the outer ends of the bars 9 will be withdrawn, so that their ends will lie substantially flush with the outer surface of the rim of the traction wheel. When the engine is running over a road of the ordinary type, the bars 9 and the fiukes 8 will be held in the position shown in Fig. 1 and the collar 23 will be kept in the position shown in Fig. 2 in order to keep the ilukes extended. Vhen, however, the engine pa-sses` onto a hard road-bed, such as one formed of rock, or when it passes over a bridge, it will be desirable to withdraw the linkes, and this is accomplished by shifting the arm 26 until the grooves 24 in the collar 23 register with the notches 11 at the periphery of collar 12, and the forked lever 22 will then be shifted so as to move the collar 18 inward and draw the collar 13 into contact with the inner collar 3 on the sleeve 2. The inward movement of the collar 13 will cause a pull upon the links 15, which will be eiective to shift the bars 9 inward toward the sleeve 2 to withdraw the i'lukes into position such that their ends will be substantially flush with the outer surface lof the rim of the traction-wheel, as already explained.

If it is desired to retract the llukes only partially, leaving them projected a slight distance beyond the outer surface of the rim of the wheel, the lever 22 may be shifted so as to move the collar 13 toward but not into contact with the inner collar 3 of the hub and may be held in that position as long as desired.

As the distance which it is desirable for the flukes to project beyond the periphery of the traction-Wheel will vary somewhat with the character of the road-bed over whichthe engine passes, it is a desideratum to provide IOT IIC

means whereby the distance which each fluke projects may be adjusted without great loss of time. Such means is found in the links 15, constructed in the manner above explained. By the use of turnbuckles 15c the portions liL and 15b of each link may be brought together or separated, as desired, and the distance which each iiuke projects beyond the rim of the traction wheel proportionately varied.

It will be observed that in the construction of my improved traction-wheel the number of parts employed is small and the action of the mechanism for withdrawing or projecting the flukes positive in character and is easily effected by means of the lever 22 without the necessity of the engineers leaving his position or stopping the movement of the engine. It will also be observed that the arm 26 is so placed that .as the traction-wheel turns the arm can be easily reached by the engineer from his position on the engine and may be shifted to lock the bars 9. in projected position or to permit their withdrawal toward the hub of the wheel without the necessity of stopping the engine, it being understood that in engines of the type for which my improved traction-wheel is intended the ordinary speed of movement is necessarily slow and su fcient time is aorded for the engineer to shift said arm without danger.

Having thus described the construction and operation of my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. The combination in a traction-wheel of radially-disposed fluke-carrying bars slidabl y mounted in openings in the rim of said Wheel, a collar slidably mounted on the hub of said wheel, a link connection between each bar and said collar, and means for sliding said collar.

2. The combination in a traction-wheel of a plurality of radially-disposed bars carrying dukes, said bars being slidably mounted in openings in the rim of said Wheel, a collar slidably mounted on the hub of said wheel, links adjustable in length connecting said collar with each of said bars, and means for sliding said collar on said hub.

3. The combination in a traction-wheel having a hub comprising a sleeve with a fixed collar at each end thereof, of fluke-carrying bars -slidably mounted in openings in the rim of said wheel, a collar slidably mounted between the collars of said hub, a ring supported internal to the hub of said wheel and rigidly connected with said sliding collar, links connecting said sliding collar with said bars, and means for moving said ring inward and outward. l

4. The combination in a tractionwheel of a plurality of bars carrying fiukes, said bars being slidabiy mounted in openings in the rim of said wheel, a collar siidably mounted on the hub of said wheel, a plurality of links connecting said collar with said bars, a shrouded ring supported internal to the hub of said Wheel, and rigidly attached to said collar, and a forked lever the ends of which are in engagement with said shrouded ring.

5. The combination in a traction-wheel of a plurality of bars carrying flukes, said bars being slidably mounted in openings in the rim of said wheel, a collar slidably mounted on the hub of said wheel, links connecting said collar with said bars, bolts projecting laterally from said collar and passing through openings in a portion of said hub, a ring attached to the inner ends of said bolts, and means for imparting movement to said ring.

6. The combination in a traction-wheel of a plurality of fluke-carrying bars slidably mounted in openings in the rim of said wheel, a collar slidably mounted on the hub of said wheel and held against rotation thereon, links pivotall y connected with said collar and with said bars, and means. for sliding said collar on said hub.

7. The combination in a traction-wheel of a plurality of fluke-carrying bars the outer ends of which slide in openings in the rim of said wheel and the inner ends of which are slidably mounted in guideways in the hub of said wheel, a collar rotatably Amounted in the hub of said wheeland provided with shoulders adapted to engage with the ends of said bars to lock them in extended position.

8. The combination in a traction-wheel of a plurality of bars extending through openings in the rim of said wheel and provided with dukes, ways for the inner ends of said bars provided in the hub of said wheel, a collar rotatably mounted on said hub and having radial grooves adapted to be thrown into registration with said ways, and shoulders adapted to be brought into engagement with the ends of said bars to lock them in extended position. p i

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

DAVID BENJAMINE SPECK.

Witnesses:

ELMER EDWARD SPEGK, WILLIAM S. SENEDER. 

